Cowboys take a beating in NT police chase

Each year on the Picnic Day public holiday in the Northern Territory, the local Harts Range police challenge local pastoralists to a horse race.

It's called the 'police versus bushies' race, otherwise known as the Webb-Darken Challenge.

Race caller Sean Parnell says the race is the whole reason the holiday even exists.

"The racecourse has been here for 66 years now since the first races back in 1947." he said.

"Bob Darken was a cop out here. He came out to Harts Range when the police station moved from Arltunga.

"On a quiet day, Bobbie and the three Webb brothers from Mount Riddock Station decided to have a bit of a race to see who was best.

"Bob Darken rode off to the administrator to ask for a public holiday to be declared.

"They called it 'Picnic Day' because they had a big picnic, and it got approved, so that's how the holiday started."

The Harts Range Races, are held each Picnic Day weekend, 215 kilometres north east of Alice Springs at the base of the East McDonnell Ranges.

Five years ago, the race committee decided to resurrect the police versus bushies race, with police competing against riders from local cattle stations.

So far, the police have won two races, the station riders won the other two.

This year was the decider - and the stakes were high.

Three riders from Lucy Creek and Mount Riddick Station raced against relatives of the local sergeant at the Harts Range community Tex Meecham.

Mr Parnell says the Meechams brought up some horses from South Australia this year, giving them an edge.

"A few years back we did use official police horses, but we found they were a bit slow because they're not designed for racing of course, they're more like clydesdales - nothing that races at Rosehill or Randwick that's for sure."

The Webb-Darken Challenge is also a selling race. All six horses are auctioned off beforehand providing the locals with a chance to own the winning racehorse.

Auctioneer Herbie Neville from Elders said there was total clearance, with the Mount Riddock fetching top price at $350.

"I think the prices were a little bit higher than last year," he said.

"I think those police horses surprised all of us.

"I hope they're legit. They told me they swabbed their own horses! There'll probably be an enquiry."

Suspicions only grew, as the police horse 'Bundy' was ridden to victory, beating the station horses by a length.